In the Footsteps of St. Louis Marie de Montfort

"Footsteps Online"

Winter 1999 (Volume 4, Issue 4)

Journeying with Mary towards the Year 2000

Together, as pilgrims on a journey, we stand at the threshold of the New Millennium and Jubilee Year.

In this issue of FOOTSTEPS we will reflect on how, for Montfort, Mary plays a key role on our journey towards Jesus. In previous issues we have dwelt on three other aspects of this journey which Montfort recommends will help us : an Ardent Desire, Continual Prayer and Mortification. Montfort calls this fourth way,

"....... a loving and tender devotion to the Blessed Virgin" LEW 203

and says that,

"...... whoever wishes to possess Jesus must possess Mary" LEW 204

All of us have to admit that we do struggle daily on the journey of life - we struggle in our relationships, in our sickness and disability, with our moments of selfishness and temptation, our frustrations and our failure to forgive - the list can be endless!!! We long for a change of heart, a sure way that will help us in our relationship with Jesus and with one another. Montfort's way of a genuine and loving devotion to Mary is a hidden and simple way because that is how her life was, but it was precisely because of that that she was able to do great things for God.

"For He that is mighty has done great things for me and Holy is His name" Luke 1:49

So, as we embark on the new Millennium with fireworks, domes and parties and concern about Millennium 'bugs', I suggest that we make a serious choice for that simple and more hidden way that will enable us to become more Christ-like in our thoughts, our words and our actions in the Year 2000 and beyond. Truly, what a celebration it will be if we can mark 2000 years of Christianity by making a commitment to Christ, and like Mary, to resolve to,

"Let all God's glory through,
God's glory which would go
Through her and from her flow…" Gerard Manley Hopkins

And how may we do this?

"Let it be done to me according to your Word" Luke 1:38

These words of Mary to the Angel were brought about by her desire, her continual prayer and obedience and by "pondering on all these things in her heart". If we have not done so before let us seek to ponder more on God's Word in moments of quiet prayer and when reciting the mysteries of the Rosary.

"If you live this devotion sincerely, you will give more glory to Jesus in a month than in many years of a more demanding devotion". TD 222

Mary's response to God's Word was not to think of herself but to reach out "with haste" to someone in need - her cousin Elisabeth. A genuine and loving devotion to Mary will have a missionary outlook, for in opening our hearts to His Word as Mary did we open our hearts to others in the bits and pieces of daily life. This is most clearly reflected in Mary's Magnificat which is a prayer of praise, thanks and freedom for all those who are hungry and lowly.

"My Mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and live if" Luke 8:21

At Cana in Galilee Mary pointed to Jesus and said, "Do whatever He tells you".

If as we see the sun go down on this century and Millennium we can ask Mary to be present with us to help us to do whatever God wants of us, then we can have no surer way or firmer foundation.

Montfort has some other practical ideas for us too! He suggested - indeed strongly recommended - that after Holy Communion we pray the Magnificat, for this prayer sprang from Mary's lips as she carried Christ within her. Could Mary's prayer of thanksgiving become our prayer after communion?

It was said of Marie Louise Trichet, first Daughter of Wisdom, that she became, 'transformed, lost in Mary', through the example and direction of Montfort. It was she who introduced the hourly Hail Mary to her Sisters, realising that Mary's presence in their lives, no matter where they were or what they were doing, could only lead to Jesus. Could this hourly Hail Mary become a continual prayer in our daily life?

As we enter upon the Jubilee Year which calls each of us to reconciliation and the restoration of a spirit of justice in society, could each of us "make haste" like Mary did to relieve suffering in our local neighbourhood?

Louis Marie de Montfort understood well that our Baptismal Consecration is a way of living as well as an event. And so he encouraged people to renew their Baptismal commitment through the hands of Mary. As Associates and friends of the Montfortian family let us join together in prayer and praise by renewing our Consecration, thankful that Mary is present with us on our journey of faith, just as she was present in Bethlehem, Calvary and in the upper room at Pentecost.

Act of Consecration

Today I renew with my hand in yours the promises of my baptism.
I pledge myself with Your help to struggle against evil.
I give myself completely to Jesus, Incarnate Wisdom,
so as to be more faithful to Him from now on,
by carrying my cross after Him all the days of my life.
And so I choose you today, 0 Mary, to be both Mother and Queen in my life.
I place myself entirely in your hands with all that I am and all that I have.
I give you whatever I may do in the future and whatever worth my life may have
so that you may use it for the service of the Kingdom of God.
0 most kind-hearted of all Virgins, accept this offering of myself.
Teach me not to hold back from being led by you.
Grant that I may become a true disciple of your Son Jesus.
Virgin most faithful, share your faithfulness with me,
so that I may attain one day to the fullness of life in Jesus Christ here on earth and for all eternity. Amen.